Grant: Operating Grant: CRISM Indigenous Engagement Platform

This document describes the Indigenous Engagement Platform (IEP) that will work to strengthen and increase Indigenous involvement across CRISM Nodes by advising the CRISM Coordinating Centre (CCC) on Indigenous research priorities. Attention is paid to improve Indigenous engagement at all levels from grassroots community engagement to training of Indigenous researchers to work in substance use research. The IEP will support CRISM to improve Indigenous health and wellbeing Indigenous driven efforts. Key activities of the IEP will include five core pillars: 1) Knowledge translation and mobilization will support the co-creation and translation of Indigenous specific KT/M outcomes and activities; support Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action regarding language for translation to local Indigenous languages; contribute to the CRISM website and newsletter. 2) Training of Indigenous students will work in partnership with the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR), Indigenous Mentorship Networks (IMNs), and the National NEIHR Coordinating Centre (NCC) to improve, encourage, and enhance opportunities for Indigenous graduate students focused on substance use research. 3) Indigenous research priorities will be designed with Indigenous community partners to develop specific Indigenous research priority areas to be carried out by the different nodes. 4) Improving Indigenous methodologies for CRISM where the development of research methodologies will be created to improve distinctions-based substance use research across CRISM nodes. 5) Development of an Indigenous evaluation framework to examine how Indigenous distinctions-based research is implemented throughout CRISM nodes and platforms. An intergenerational structure for the IEP will be implemented with youth, adult, senior and Elder/knowledge keeper advisory boards to guide the IEP. A Two-Row relationship with the CCC is proposed to create a mechanism of accountability to Indigenous stakeholders.